UK - Fluoridation debate
Fluoridation debate
FEW issues now or in the past are as contentious as fluoridation of our water. A study is to be carried out into adding fluoride to our drinking water after pleas from two health trusts concerned about the state of some of our children’s teeth.
The feasibility study is being commissioned by Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority, after being asked to do so by Primary Care Trusts in Bradford and Kirklees.
Given that health officials have now placed this issue in the public domain the onus falls on the SHA to conduct the widest possible consultation exercise and I would urge residents to have their say.
Yorkshire Water said it does not add fluoride at the moment because it was not needed to improve our drinking water quality and they were aware of divided public opinion over ethics and health benefits.
Although Yorkshire Water will have no say as to whether the mineral is added or not.
This must now become a debate that is entirely dominated by the scientific evidence that exists around the world about whether the addition of fluoride to our water supplies is beneficial or not.
After all, this issue has reared its head only after Health Secretary Alan Johnson last year urged all parts of the country to consider fluoridation, saying it is safe and cost effective and ensures children in deprived areas who have more rotten teeth than affluent areas are helped.
I would urge the public to research themselves before being blindly led to say yes, if we get the opportunity to do so.
I do, however, support trying to educate parents as to the benefits of children cleaning their teeth and visiting a dentist.
According to the Government’s figures, fewer patients are now registered with a NHS dentist. Bradford’s figure shows that 43% of the population have not been seen by a NHS dentist in the last two years.
Within Kirklees the figure is 38%.
Given the need to stop this rot and improve oral hygiene, it is important that this debate does not focus just on fluoridation but on the future of dentistry as a whole.
I still remain a sceptic re: fluoridation of our water and given the opportunity I will be opposing the idea.
CLR MARGARET BATES
Huddersfield
FEW issues now or in the past are as contentious as fluoridation of our water. A study is to be carried out into adding fluoride to our drinking water after pleas from two health trusts concerned about the state of some of our children’s teeth.
The feasibility study is being commissioned by Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority, after being asked to do so by Primary Care Trusts in Bradford and Kirklees.
Given that health officials have now placed this issue in the public domain the onus falls on the SHA to conduct the widest possible consultation exercise and I would urge residents to have their say.
Yorkshire Water said it does not add fluoride at the moment because it was not needed to improve our drinking water quality and they were aware of divided public opinion over ethics and health benefits.
Although Yorkshire Water will have no say as to whether the mineral is added or not.
This must now become a debate that is entirely dominated by the scientific evidence that exists around the world about whether the addition of fluoride to our water supplies is beneficial or not.
After all, this issue has reared its head only after Health Secretary Alan Johnson last year urged all parts of the country to consider fluoridation, saying it is safe and cost effective and ensures children in deprived areas who have more rotten teeth than affluent areas are helped.
I would urge the public to research themselves before being blindly led to say yes, if we get the opportunity to do so.
I do, however, support trying to educate parents as to the benefits of children cleaning their teeth and visiting a dentist.
According to the Government’s figures, fewer patients are now registered with a NHS dentist. Bradford’s figure shows that 43% of the population have not been seen by a NHS dentist in the last two years.
Within Kirklees the figure is 38%.
Given the need to stop this rot and improve oral hygiene, it is important that this debate does not focus just on fluoridation but on the future of dentistry as a whole.
I still remain a sceptic re: fluoridation of our water and given the opportunity I will be opposing the idea.
CLR MARGARET BATES
Huddersfield
posted by Bill at
9:42 AM
1 Comments:
The news that they are to carry out a "study" in Yorkshire and Humberside is very bad news. What it actually means is that they have already decided to add fluoride to the drinking water supply. Bradford and Airedale have already on regular occasions made it perfectly clear that they do not want fluoridation at all. They even wrote to Tony B Liar in 2003 to tell him so. When the NHS, PCT or any other toadies or quangos set up by New Labour speak of, Consultation or Studies or Reviews, it means only one thing. They are going to do it and dont give a bugger what any of us think. The best thing to do now is to make it clear to your local water company that you will not pay them for contaminated water and will bill them for bottled water or for reverse osmosis filters. If enough people do that, the water companies will overwhelm the Government with claims for indemnity and compensation and in the current climate its extremely unlikely that compensation will be forthcoming. My message is simple, take your fluoridation and bugger off and remember not to come back.
By
Frank Acne, at 04 June, 2009
Post a Comment
<< Home